In cipher

Secret
RVS of the South, Frunze

Having received Gusev's and your jubilant telegrams, I fear excessive optimism.

Remember that you must at all costs enter the Crimea on the heels of the enemy. Prepare more thoroughly, verify—have all the fords for taking the Crimea been studied?354
16/X. 20

Lenin**

copies

* This phrase was written in V. I. Lenin's hand. Ed.

First published in 1935

in the journal "Red Archive" no. 5

Printed from the typewritten

** In the typewritten copy, the following appears: "Written by comrade Lenin." Ed.